9 night sky events to see in June, from a ‘strawberry moon’ to an ultra-close planetary conjunction
Summer stargazing begins with some spectacular sights, including the hyped conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, which get close enough to view together via binoculars.
June brings summer to the northern hemisphere, and with it comes a host of celestial wonders, from planet meetups to a meteor shower. The month also offers prime viewing of the dense, star-filled core of the Milky Way galaxy, particularly from dark-sky getaways. In June, the luminous galactic center will shine in the southern sky throughout the night—making it a prime time to learn astrophotography.
Here are nine of the best stargazing sights this month, with tips on where and when to look up.
Jupiter-Venus conjunction—June 8-9
Jupiter and Venus have been nearing each other since late May, but their proximity will turn extra eye-popping from June 8 to 9, when the duo appears within 1.5 degrees (just over one pinky width) of each other from our perspective here on Earth. When they reach this point, you can simultaneously spy them through binoculars.
Look for the pair on the nights just before and after the conjunction, too. They’ll still appear close—around 3 degrees—from each other. Catch the planet conjunction in the northwest sky after sunset. Jupiter and Venus will appear by the Gemini constellation, with Mercury—which is often obscured by the sun’s glare—visible just below.
Saturn-moon conjunction—June 10
Early on June 10, Saturn and the moon will shine within 5 degrees, or three finger widths, of each other. At the time, the moon will be in its thin crescent phase. Both celestial bodies will soar above the eastern horizon after midnight, and travel in tandem across the sky until the sun rises. Pack your telescope if you have one. June offers a splendid view of Saturn’s rings, which are visible in even a backyard telescope or strong stargazing binoculars. Remember to stash any optical aids before the sun rises to avoid accidental eye damage.
(How did Saturn get its rings?)
Mars, Moon, Saturn alignment — June 11
For around an hour before sunrise on June 11, Mars, the crescent moon, and Saturn will form a tight diagonal line above the east horizon. You’ll need clear views east to spot the trio—a large lake or grassland with minimal horizon obstructions. Mars and the thin moon will shine close together the next morning, within 6.5 degrees; that’s just over three fingers apart.
New moon—June 15
Summer is one of the best times to admire the vivid center of the Milky Way, and the new moon, which restarts the lunar cycle, is your prime time for spotting it. When the moon slips between the Earth and the sun in this phase, it becomes almost invisible. This lack of lunar light helps the core’s cluster of millions of stars pop, even to the naked eye. This month, the new moon hits on June 15. The nights before and after promise minimal moonlight, too. It’s best to stargaze in a getaway with minimal light pollution, such as a dark-sky park.
Summer solstice—June 21
June 21 marks summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, when the sun reaches its highest point above the equator. It’s the beginning of summer and, for high latitude regions, it brings an around-the-clock glow known as midnight sun. The same date, June 21, also marks the start of winter in the southern hemisphere, where aurora australis season is now in full swing, particularly in Tasmania and southern New Zealand.
(Here are some of the most dramatic ways to experience midnight sun.)
The Bootid meteor shower peaks—June 27
Caused by lingering debris from a passing comet, the June Bootids are a milder meteor shower, with at most a few shooting stars per hour. That said, the shower’s peak on June 27 could bring intermittent outbursts with 100 or so meteors in a given hour. It’s not one to travel for, particularly with the night’s bright, nearly full moon. But if you do find yourself outside with clear skies, watch for streaking meteors near the Boötes constellation, which travels in the northern sky. It’s best to watch in the early night.
Full “strawberry moon”—June 29
Summer’s first official full moon, known as the “strawberry moon,” will occur around 8 p.m. ET on June 29. Native American communities gave the lunar orb this title for the sweet berries that proliferate in early summer. Unfortunately, “strawberry moon” is just a nickname. The sphere won’t look any redder than other months—but it can reflect warmer hues if you watch at the right time. During moonrise (around sunset) and moonset (roughly sunrise), our neighboring rock turns a brilliant orange. It’s due to how light travels through Earth’s atmosphere at this angle.
Summer Triangle—All month
If there’s one star alignment that signals the start of warm weather, it’s the summer triangle. This pyramid-shaped star pattern will be visible high in the night sky. The summer triangle links three vivid stars from different constellations. There’s Vega from the Lyra constellation, Altair from Aquila, and Deneb from Cygnus the swan—an avian shape that points in the direction of the Milky Way core. The Summer Triangle is out for most of the night, particularly by mid-June.
Mars meets Pleiades—Late June
Two of the night sky’s most colorful objects will meet up in late June’s pre-dawn sky: orange-tinged Mars and the pale-blue Pleiades star cluster. The latter is known for its seven easily visible stars, although it actually contains over 1,000. They will appear within around 4 to 5 degrees, or roughly three finger widths, from each other. Watch above the eastern horizon for around 90 minutes before sunrise. Prime viewing is around June 27 to 30.
